And the leaves came down

I love leaves and trees and autumn. I love doing autumn layouts. This was a blast! I also got to use my new EK Success border punch - love it too :)

First two Punch Projects

The challenge this week at Practical Scrappers is to use punches. Since I get to see all the work early I always have the chance to see what's been done and what hasn't (as far as types of things used and ideas). I usually try to create my projects with that in mind. This layout was actually done about a year ago - but I added to it. I don't usually alter layouts - I like to see my progression. But I really loved how I used that fancy square punch on this one. So I decided to use it but bring it up to my new standards :) Between the punch and pleating it turned out very formal - but I love it!

I had this candy corn in my stash forever...and I am so glad I didn't use it for something else. I just like looking at this cute little card. I used a corner punch for the slit look in the corners.

Boo

I made this card to fit the Practical Scrappers Challenge of Office Supplies. I love those googly eyes! It also fills the Pile it on Challenge for Halloween.

Card Workshop Cards

These are the cards we made at my card workshop last week. The first one is a CTMH design but the rest are somewhat original :). The last one was inspired by Jessica from Practical Scrappers.

Swing

This week's challenge at Practical Scrappers is to use office supplies. I altered the paper clips to have flowers on them and used staples to put my ribbon down. There is a video on Practical Scrappers telling you how to make these altered paperclips.

Altered Paper Clips Video

This video shows you how to make altered paper clips. I am posting it here first to try it out before posting it to Practical Scrappers :)

A couple more A Child's Year Layouts

Piggies

I created this using the A Child's Year cartridge. A collection of photos of Lucy with her great pigtails!

Lace Cardstock Cards

My card for Practical Scrappers. I cut out the butterflies and layered them (front and back side). Very easy to do!

Pool Play

This one looks as good on camera as in person (see below for explanation!). I had fun putting this layout together and making the pics all fit in the circle. I cut the circle out of my lace cardstock - so I have some leftover to use on a card or another layout! Didn't intend to make it look like the sun - it just kinda happened that way!

Family Fun

I am always amazed how some layouts look really great online and others are just in - person layouts. This one is not done justice by the camera. I love love love this layout in person! Aw well - is uses lace cardstock for Practical Scrappers and has lots of pretty dimension to it.

Ready - Aim - Fire

A really simple layout - done just for fun :)! My two boys having a water fight with each other!

Picking Hawberries

How about this cheery layout! And four pics on it too! This was from strawberry picking last spring. My mom was actually there too - but I scrapper her pic with the kids in another layout. I found the strawberry embellis at Michael's for $1.00 last week and knew just how I would use them!!! I have had the background paper for at least 3 years - probably even longer! Hooray for using it up! I used Storybook for the flourish and Opposites Attract for the letters. Lucy calls em "hawberries" so I thought I'd document that!

Blog Award

My new friend and fellow Practical Scrapper, Kim, gave me this award. I've enjoyed getting to know Kim through our scrapping! She's unbelievably talented - you need to check her out!


Here is how it works....
*Say thank you and give a link to the presenter of the award
*Share “10 Honest Things” about myself
*Present the award to 9 other bloggers whose blogs I find brilliant in content and/or design or to those who have encouraged me
*Be sure to tell the 9 bloggers chosen that you are giving them the Honest Scrap award and provide the guidelines for them.
Here is my list of honest things: eeek...

1. My back has been killing me lately!

2. I have two beautiful children who I cherish and love spending my days with.

3. I grew up in Los Angeles and now reside in a town of 100

4. I am hooked on soda - I wish I could stop drinking the stuff!

5. I love pumpkin pie

6. My husband and I have been sitting on an extra mortgage since we moved 18 months ago - that will hopefully be gone on October 20th!

7. I love DVR - my favorite show right now is Flash Forward

8. My sons favorite thing to eat before school is green eggs

9. I am surrounded by some incredible stay-at-home moms for friends and count my blessings every day that they are in my life!

10. My hubby and I will celebrate our 10th anniversary this year - and as soon as we sign those house papers I am going to start planning our getaway to celebrate!

Lucy Bed

I would like to have gotten a picture of this outside - but it is raining and there is no end in sight! I did this layout with The Cuttlebug spot challenge in mind...but it also qualifies for Frosted Design and Pile it On too :). Apparently I am in challenge mode! Actually I think I just need some inspiration on where ot start! And for all the complaining I did about the scissors - I used them on my flowers (inspired by Kerri!).

These pictures are from the first night Lucy slept in her big girl bed. She loves to say "Dats Lucy bed" so I thought it would make a perfect title!

Chicago

I have to say that I think I'm tired of decorative scissors...I don't need to use them again for awhile :). This was my last project for Practical Scrappers this week. I used the Going Places cartridge and Route 66 paper set from CTMH. It came together pretty easily!

Decorative Edge Scissors Card

How much fun did I have making this card? It was a blast!!! The flower is made just like the layout from last week - inspired by Sandy. I layered my scalloped rows and popped them up to give them a ruffly look.

This one was done for Practical Scrappers but also qualifies for Pile it On, The Cuttlebug Spot, and Frosted Designs challenge.

Swimming Girl

This is one of my layouts for the challenge this week at Practical Scrappers. We are using decorative edge scissors this week...a challenge I am not excited about! This layout is another one of my "miscarriage layouts." These pictures of Lucy are from the day I started to miscarry - dreadful memories to bring back - but how could I not scrap that cutie in her bathing suit :)? This also qualifies for the ABC Challenge of emboss, Frosted Design of flourishes, and Pile-it-On 3D challenge.

New Fan of Transparencies

Let the record show that before this week I was not a fan of using transparencies. After making a few cards and using them in my cuttlebug - I've changed my mind! I already decided that for the next card workshop I host I am doing a transparency card :).

I really love both of these projects. I especially love the colors I used on the layout and the picture has some of my favorite people in it! It's a pretty simple layout - but sometimes we need simple right!?!

Snow

I've gotten into the habit of scrapping just one picture at a time. I like doing it that way because it allows for you to do a lot on the layout-but I don't like it because I have zillions of pictures and I want to make sure I'm telling the whole story! So I've been trying to be conscious of doing multiple picture layouts too. I did this layout with some of our goofier snow pictures from last year - mom making snow angels with Timmy - the kids and I having snow ice cream - fun silly times!